South African media was abuzz with reports that Minhyahil Teshome Beyene who played while suspended for the Zebras game, should have also sat out their weekend clash against Ethiopia. South Africa argues Beyene had not served his suspension and therefore was still ineligible for their clash. If FIFA, as expected, docks three points from Ethiopia and award them to Botswana, there is no way Beyene will be punished again for featuring against Bafana, according to the FIFA Disciplinary Code. But FIFA, responding to a question to Mmegi Sport, said a match suspension is regarded as no longer pending in such a case.
"Regarding your question, please refer to the FIFA Disciplinary Code which stipulates that a match suspension is regarded as no longer pending in such a case," FIFA said yesterday. Mmegi Sport had sought to establish if a player can be punished twice for an offense committed during the Zebras match. However, Article 19, paragraph 5 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, states that: "A match suspension is regarded as no longer pending if a match is retroactively forfeited because a player took part in a match despite being ineligible (art. 55).
